Hong Kong police arrest 6 members of ‘radical’ group suspected of calling for attacks against officers, anti-epidemic workers
- Force says group’s social media account had more than 2,000 messages, with many discussing the promotion of hatred and use of extreme violence
- Police operation against group uncovered items which included two suspected home-made crossbows, 15 arrows, a dagger and two imitation pistols
Hong Kong police have arrested six suspected core members of a “radical” group for allegedly conspiring to use extreme violence against officers and local anti-epidemic personnel as well as spreading hate speech online.
The force on Monday said the group had made more than 2,000 posts on social media in which they discussed the promotion of violence and hatred, as well as the use of extreme violence, such as stabbing police officers and anti-epidemic personnel.
“The messages mentioned ‘slaughter by force’, ‘massacre’, ‘large-scale explosion’, ‘burial’, ‘cutting neck’ and other wordings,” said Wilson Tam Wai-shun, acting senior superintendent of the cyber security and technology crime bureau.
“They also discussed purchasing, making and using highly lethal weapons, such as bombs.”
Police launched an operation against the group on Saturday, arresting four men and two women, aged between 16 and 36, with three of them being charged with conspiring to incite to commit wounding with intent. They will appear in court on Tuesday.